Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-11
Two Matters on Which Citizens NJ she
Northeast Have SOmething To saw.

THE MEETING LAST NIGHT-THR COMMISSIONERS
ACTION IN RELATION TO NORTH CAPITOL STREET
A CALL FOR MORE POLICEMEN AND TWO ADpr
TIoNAL POLICE COURTs-LAws NEEDED TO RRsu-
LATE PooL-RooAs AND THE LIQUOR BUSINESS
CHARGES THAT JURIEs AXE PAcKED-A FREE
SWIMMING BATH WANTED.
Citizens Association No. 3. the Northeast WASH
ington Association, held meeting at the Peabody
School building last night and listened to a num-
Der OF reports. Mr.. w. c. Dodge presided and
Major s. II. walker filled the post of secretary. Mr.
s. c. Clarke chairman OF the committee on streets
and reservations, made report, which commented
with severity upon the Commissioners for the
continued non-improvement" OF North Capitol
street, between and Massachusetts, avenue, and
ther action In relation TO the improvement of the
same street, between and streets
The report also alleged that there was unwar.
ranted delay In the work Improvement on streets
under the current appropriations AS to North Capt.
tol street between street and Massachusetts,
avenue the report said that the work was under
assurance was given that IL would be completed
this spring. This promise, however was not car
rled out, the money having been, as Mr.. Clarke
said, wrongfully expended elsewhere So new
contract had been made under the current aDDro-
priati0n for the same work. uniuStly making an
inroad INTO the sum allowed to the northeast Sec
ton for the current year. The report called atten-
ton 10 the fact that the Commissioners. though
they had estimated this year for the Improvement
NJ
put the work out TO contract AS to other streets
the committee had assurances that the work esti-
mattel ior would he done: The committee recon-
mended that the Commissioners be requested to
place North Capitol street between / and K under
contract also. The report was accepted and the
recommendation adopted.
Mr.. Clarke stated that the Engineer Commits
soner mad told him that IL was probable that the
Commissioners could not do this work, as the
work OF street improvement was costing more
this year than 1t was expected
Major Walker said that half of this North Capt.
tol street improvement was charged TO the esti-
mates Tor the northwest section, and half to the
northeast. The Commissioners desired to use the
nOrthwest part on 0ther streets, and, Of course,
Old not WISH 10 pave tue eastern half OF the street.
LAW AND ORDER.
Mr.. Josiah Willard, chairman OF the committee
law, order, and police, presented the following
report:
"Your committee, appointed for an impartial
consideration OF laws, ordinances or regulations
affecting public morals good ORDER the police,
militia, markets and jails would respectfully re-
port as follows: That they have found the laws for
the regulation OF the liquor traffic, the pool rooms,
the policy and lottery business and houses Of pros
tltutlOn TO be vague and uncertain In their opera
tton: That the penalties prescribed for violation
ol the laws are not sufficiently severe to deter
criminals and are not uniform in the cities and In
the county. That there is no penalty under the
laws for seeking to procure fraudulent liquor
licenses nor any prohibition with penalty to pre-
vent the same from being granted to diSOrderly or
unlawful parties, or to KNOWN bawdy houses.
That very insufficient SAFEGUARDS are thrown
around the youth Of both sexes to protect them
by law from the decentralization Of
THE POOL ROOMS,
and the enticements Of the liquor, gambling, and
social clubs called. That the policy and lottery
business Is still openly conducted In prominent
streets, taking large sums from the earnings of
the people, and causing great distress to families
dependent for their bread upon these wasted
earnings. That the vagrant law should not have
to he reSorted TO to secure the apprehension of
known professional thieves, and the police depart
ment be poweriess TO prevent the preparation OF
crime when they could arrest these parties as soon
as they reach the city. The attention OF your
committee has been Called to the custom OF
FILLING THE JURIEs
OF our criminal courts by calling talesmen, sum-
moned by the marshal instead OF drawing the
extra names needed from the Jury-box. 1t Is al
legged that interested parties have thus been ad-
mltted TO the panels who have succeeded in defeat
ing the operations OF the law, and that liquor has
been introduced into the Jury-rooms before the
rendition OF a verdict.
"YOur committee suggest that these are matters
OF very grave pubic concern and should be
thoroughly Investigated by the Committee OF One
trial by jury, and for their recommendations as to
what laws are necessary to make the course OF
Justice uniform and equally binding upon all the
different sections OF the District OF Columbia.
THE POLICE.
"They find the police department Grip
pied by the operation of law, passed
many years since, requiring its officers to
be taken from the discharged soldiers and
sailors OF the Army and Navy, thus working great
injustice to native-bOrn citizens who are Drac-
tically debarred from admission to its service
They ind 250 men on the roster, of whom over 40
are detailed for special duty and many OF the old
est men In the service are disabled from regular
duty, making it impossible for the department to
have more than 80 men on active duty in the en-
tire District at any one time, day or night. They
fnd that One-third OF the sergeants are doing an
Omcer'S duty without receiving the small extra
salary paid them in addition to the pr1vateS' pay,
and that there are no definite rules for Che regua
ton OF promotion from the SIS TO the $50 class;
yet the records show for the amount Of territory
and population in the District OF Columbia, as
compared with any other city In America, that
this police force Is compelled to do nearly double
the duty done by any force elsewhere. THIS ex-
ceSStve labor, on reserve, on active duty, and at
the Police Court, sometimes as much as twenty
hours out OF the twenty-fOur, Is fast increasing
the ranks OF the disabled and innrm- Their PEN
sion fund for WORKOUT men is so small that worthy
men are compelled TO keep up the tramp tramp
tramp until death gives the relief that tardy
community approves OF but has not heretofore
urged upon the attention OF Congress. That our
force has, with q few exceptions done its duty
faithfully In caring for the lives, the liberty and
property OF our citizens, far was possible 70
be done with the limited number Of available
men, Is apparent to all; but that they need speedy
relief for the disabled and large increase OF num-
bers-an Increase from the body OF our own citi-
ZenS, who know how to and will take pride In
doing their duty by the capital city of the nation
Is equally convincing.
THE NORTHEAST.
1.-THE fact that the entire northeastern section OF
Jul SAty ouu Oouuly, OVcI SI,OOO In.
habitants, about so miles OF streets and 40 miles
OF roads and alleys, comprising more than one
fourth OF the District Is almost entirely without
police protection, and without q precinct or sta
ton, should be fact no longer. Compelled by the
vast stride OF Improvements In their section the
people have organized to do their own patrOling:
they have plead with and petit1Oned the author1-
ties TO grant them relief; they have subscribed
the means to pay for and rendered station-hOuse
rent free to the Commissioners, but their efforts
have been unsuccessful except TO secure four more
men for that precinct. They want the sixth pre-
clnct divided, and new precinct organ
lied and manned, and station in charge
cessarly caused to the Ocer by the trial of cases
In the Police Court, making 1t impossible for some
10 secure time for sleep; the great Generalization
or morals caused by crowding together OF all
classes OF criminals, and all ages and sexes as well
as the danger TO health caused by the crowded
condition OF the vans and cells and corridors OF
this court; the tmpOSstbtlity Of one Judge giving
the necessary time to try cases, thereby unwit~
tingly doing great outrage in many cases to par.
ties who might prove their innocence OF crime II
given opportunity, are but few OF the reasons
why some remedy should be found at once to re-
neve the oficer and the citizen from the pestien.
tial atmosphere OF this ly-ventilated building
and these vans.
THREE POLICE COURTS
"Your committee would urge that the Committee
of One Hundred be requested to make an immedi-
ate and careful investigation OF the evils herein
but briefly outlined; that they be asked TO secure
two more courts IN each OF the two ends OF the
city, and TO divide the District into three Police